Goble said it appears Grant, who’s been with the department since August 2005 and had never been involved in a shooting, fired from inside his police car while Lee also was inside his vehicle.

Grant’s patrol car collided head-on with Lee’s as the suspect attempted a U-turn on Park a few blocks south of Loring Avenue. About the same time, another patrol car collided with the rear of Lee’s vehicle.

Goble said Lee went into the Check Casher at 644 Park Ave. and displayed a gun about 9:45 a.m. and demanded money. He said it was not clear if Lee received any money, but the teller was able to alert police. The suspect got into a car and drove south on Park ending up on Plainfield Avenue where a officer initiated the police chase.

The police chief said Grant did nothing wrong.

The suspect shot several times at the patrol vehicle hitting it once near Plainfield and Loring about a block from a church day care, Goble said.

The suspect did not fire his weapon, a small-caliber handgun, after the first round on Plainfield, Goble said.

A third officer, who was off-duty but in his patrol car nearby, joined in the chase, he said.

None of the officers was struck by gunfire, the chief said.

Both lanes of Park were closed near where the shooting occurred, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control until the road was cleared about 4:15 p.m.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the case because it is a police-involved shooting. It was the first in Orange Park since 2007, Goble said.

Lee has numerous burglary arrests, according to the Clay County court records.

Darn, only critical condition? A little better aim and you save hospital time and resources for something worthwhile - and you save the taxpayers the cost of incarceration. Kudos and thanks to all officers involved.